Nick Evans helped Harlequins to the Premiership title last season and believes there are more trophies to come. Photograph: Frantzesco Kangaris

Nick Evans turned down the opportunity to join many of his fellow former All Blacks in their Japanese semi-retirement home to sign a new contract with Harlequins. The three-year deal means the 32-year-old will see out his playing days at The Stoop.

Quins had been talking to Evans, the New Zealand outside-half who joined them in 2008, about a new deal since the beginning of the season, but they faced opposition not only from cash-rich clubs in Japan but also in France. His decision to remain with the champions is a fillip not just for the club but for the Premiership, which has struggled to attract big-name players because of the financial muscle of clubs in other countries.

"There is not a player, supporter or coach in the game in England, let alone Harlequins, who will not be delighted that Nick Evans has agreed to stay with us for another three years," said Conor O'Shea, the Harlequins director of rugby. "The Aviva Premiership wants the best players playing in it and Nick is one of the very best."

Evans has made 106 appearances for Quins and scored 1,184 points. He played a central role last season when the club won the Premiership for the first time and said one of the reasons he stayed was that he believes it will not be their last title.

"There is no limit to what this team can achieve and I am excited to have an influence both on and off the field," said Evans, who won 16 caps and was voted the Rugby Players' Association player of the season last May. "My decision was made easy by the ambition of this great club, the success we've had and the hunger to want more. The support I've had from the supporters has been amazing and I'll do my best to help the club stay one of the major forces in English and European rugby."

The All Blacks have left for their tour to Europe, which takes in Tests against Scotland, Italy, Wales and England, determined to go through the calendar year unbeaten. The draw against Australia in Brisbane last month halted a run of 16 successive victories, but they last tasted defeat 15 months ago.

"No one wants to be part of the first team that loses this year," said the No8 Kieran Read. "Winning is our motivation and we intend to go to Europe and show people there how we perform. We want to play in a really nice style. There are a few guys pretty disappointed still from the last performance against Australia. It's just a little bit of extra motivation. We want to play some positive footy and I hope we can showcase that up there. We want to be playing at a really high level." The New Zealand coach, Steve Hansen, said he would give every player in his 32-strong squad a run in the games against Scotland and Italy before settling on his strongest combination in the final two matches at the Millennium Stadium and Twickenham.

Elsewhere, the Fiji coach head coach, Inoke Male, has been forced into two late change for Fiji's squad for their northern hemisphere tour. Exeter's Sireli Naqelevuki has been called up to replace Josaia Lotawa after the centre failed a fitness test. Meanwhile, the full-back Aisea Natoga comes into the team to replace the scrum-half Nemia Kenatale, which leaves the Melbourne Rebels' Samu Wara to provide cover at scrum-half for the established Nikola Matawalu and Kelemedi Bola.